Protecting Your
Household Goods: What If Something Is Lost or Damaged?

There's a lot at stake when you move. There's the money
you'll spend. The memories you're taking from one place to
another. And, your treasured possessions—furniture, family
pictures and children's toys. When you move, your personal
property (including valuables) is loaded onto a moving
truck. And while most moves go smoothly, accidents do happen
and some items may be lost or damaged during shipment.

Your mover is
liable for the value of the goods you ask them to transport.
There are, however, different levels of liability. The level
you choose will determine the type and amount of
reimbursement you will receive if an item is lost or
damaged. Be aware of the various types of protection
available and the charges for each option. This article will
serve as a tool to assist you in making the right choice for
you.

The two
different levels of liability movers are required to provide
are explained below and in Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move,
a booklet movers are required by Federal regulations to
provide to interstate moving customers. Be sure to read this
information carefully and follow the instructions provided
to declare a value on your shipment.
Other useful information can be found in Ready to Move.

What are your
options?

Under Federal law, interstate movers must offer two
different liability options referred to as valuation
coverage: (1) Full Value Protection and (2) Released Value

(1) Full Value
Protection

Under Full Value
Protection, your mover is liable for the replacement
value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment. This
is the most comprehensive plan available for the protection
of your belongings. Unless you select the alternative level
of of liability described below—Released Value—your mover
will transport your shipment under the Full Value Protection
level of liability. If any article is lost, destroyed or
damaged while in your mover's custody, your mover will, at
its discretion, offer to do one (1) of the following
for each item:

Repair the item

Replace with a similar item

Make a cash settlement for the cost of the repair or
the current market replacement value

Under this option, movers are permitted to limit their
liability for loss or damage to articles of extraordinary
value, unless you specifically list these articles on the
shipping documents. An article of extraordinary value is any
item whose value exceeds $100 per pound (i.e., jewelry,
silverware, china, furs, antiques). Ask your mover for a
written explanation of this limitation before your move.

The exact cost for
Full Value Protection varies by mover and may be subject to
various deductible levels of liability that may reduce your
cost. Ask your mover for written details of their Full Value
Protection plan.

The most economical
protection available is Released Value, since it is
offered at no additional charge. However, the protection is
minimal. Under this option, the mover assumes liability for
no more than 60 cents per pound per article. For
example, if your mover lost or damaged a 10-pound stereo
component valued at $1,000, you would only receive $6.00 in
compensation (60 cents x 10 pounds).

There is no
additional charge for Released Value. However, you must sign a specific statement on the bill of lading or
contract agreeing to it. But remember, it compensates you
according to the weight of the item, not its actual value.
And, if you do not select Released Value, your shipment
will automatically be transported at the Full Value
Protection level of liability and you will be assessed
the applicable charge.

Full Value
Protection and Released Value are not insurance policies
governed by State insurance laws; instead, they are Federal
contractual tariff levels of liability authorized under
Released Rates Orders of the Surface Transportation Board of
the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Third-party
Insurance

If you select Released Value, some movers may also
offer to sell or obtain for you separate liability
insurance. The cost of this insurance is not included in the
basic move and must be purchased separately by you. This is
not valuation coverage governed by Federal law—it
is optional insurance regulated by State law.

If you purchase
this coverage, the mover remains liable for the amount up to
60 cents per pound per article; but the rest of the loss is
recoverable from the insurance company up to the amount of
insurance you purchased. Your mover is required to issue the
policy or other written record of the purchase and provide
you with a copy at the time of purchase.

You also have the
option of purchasing insurance from a third-party insurance
company. Before purchasing insurance, check your homeowner's
insurance policy to see if you're already covered.

If you're
moving within your State ...Each State may have its own rules and regulations governing
moves within the State. Check with your State, county or
local consumer affairs agency or State moving association if
you're moving to a new location within the same State.

Keep in Mind ...

Packing your own boxes. You may
consider packing your own household goods articles
to reduce your costs, but if the articles you pack
are damaged, it may be more difficult to establish
your claim against the mover for the boxes you pack.

Choosing Released Value coverage when
your household goods are valued at more than 60
cents per pound per article.

Failing to notify your mover in
writing about articles of extraordinary value.

Do not sign a delivery receipt for your
household goods if it contains any language about releasing
or discharging your mover or its agents from liability.
By law, you have nine (9) months to file a written claim.
Strike out this kind of language or refuse delivery until a
proper receipt is provided.

Report
loss and damage promptly. You have
nine (9) months following either the date of delivery, or
the date on which the shipment should have been delivered,
to file a written claim.

Interstate
movers are required to participate in a dispute resolution
or arbitration program to address your loss and damage
claims. If your mover does not
provide you with information on its program, ask for
it—movers are required to provide a concise, easy-to-read
summary.

If
you move yourself, and hire a
professional company to pack your belongings, load your
truck, or unload your truck, usually no insurance is
offered. This means that you are transporting your own
shipment.

Key Terms

Bill of Lading
– The receipt for your household goods and the
contract for their transportation.

Extraordinary Value or High Value
Article
– An article of high or extraordinary value is any
item whose value exceeds $100 per pound.

Interstate Move
– A move in which goods are transported from one
State to another.

Intrastate
Move
– A move in which goods are transported from one
point to another within the same State; no State
borders are crossed.

Tariff
– A list of rules, regulations, available services
and resulting charges. Each mover publishes its own
tariffs and these must be provided to you upon
request.

Valuation
– The designated dollar value of your shipment.

Special Note: Interstate
Contracted Movers, LLC provides released value coverage
and we do this at no additional costs. Please
understand that released value insurance is not allot of
insurance and that we recommend purchasing
insurance for full replacement value to protect your
property. This insurance may be purchased from
Interstate Contracted Movers, LLC or from a third party
insurance company. Before purchasing additional
insurance, check with you home owners, renters, or
business liability insurance company to inquire if they
already cover the move, or if an umbrella policy can be
purchased to cover the move. If not, full replacement
value insurance can be purchased directly from
Interstate Contracted Movers, LLC or by clicking
Moving Insuranceor by calling 888-893-8835,Baker
International Insuranceor by calling 800-356-0099. Always do
competitive pricing! As last resort, additional
insurance can be purchased directly from Interstate
Contracted Movers. Interstate Contracted Movers, LLC
assumes
liability for no more than $0.60 cents per pound per
article unless additional insurance was purchased
directly from us. In the rear event that you need to
file an insurance claim from Interstate Contracted
Movers, please download the Claim Forms or
call and request them to be emailed to you.